Red Sox Notebook: Reds' Hamilton hits the brakes

Tuesday

May 6, 2014 at 5:54 PMMay 6, 2014 at 5:59 PM

By Eric AvidonDaily News staff

BOSTON — Not many players elicit references to Rickey Henderson, but Reds outfielder Billy Hamilton did Tuesday afternoon.With Cincinnati visiting the Red Sox for the first time in nine years, Hamilton, who stole a staggering 155 bases in the minor leagues in 2012, is in town. Fortunately for Felix Doubront, Tuesday night's Red Sox starting pitcher, Hamilton wasn't in the Reds' starting lineup as he recovers from a sprain in two fingers on his left hand.But he is available to pinch run, and the switch hitter could be back Wednesday when Jake Peavy toes the rubber for Boston."This is the type of player that comes along every so often," Boston manager John Farrell said. "You'd probably have to think back to a guy like Rickey Henderson to have that ability to steal the number of bases that he has. ... When you see a guy steal (155) bases in the minor leagues, that's eye-popping. The ability to impact the game with his legs is clear. Even though he's not in the lineup tonight we know that he's going to factor in if there's a pinch-running situation that emerges, and we expect him to be in the lineup tomorrow."It's an interesting player, there's no question."Hamilton won't remind anyone of the great Henderson with the bat, but his legs are reminiscent of the game's great base thieves. Henderson, a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer, not only set all-time records with 1,406 stolen bases and 2,295 runs scored but also hit 297 home runs and had an .820 OPS in 25 seasons.Hamilton's minor-league OPS was merely .728.But he can run like few others. In addition to 155 stolen bases in 2012 — in 132 games — he swiped 103 bags in 2011.In 41 games with the Reds, starting last season, Hamilton has stolen 24 bases and been caught six times. His .265 batting average is respectable, but unlike Henderson, who walked more than 2,000 times and had a career .401 on-base percentage, Hamilton has just six career walks in 124 plate appearances, and a .306 OBP."You take your best shot at ... disrupting his timing as a base stealer," said Farrell. "He has been thrown out."

Injury updateReliever Edward Mujica, who felt a twinge in his right oblique while warming up in the bullpen Saturday, was still going through tests Tuesday afternoon to determine whether he'll be placed on the disabled list."He is actually throwing right now," Farrell said shortly after 4 p.m. "He's going through stretch with the pitchers. We needed to get him on a mound to test and see where he is. Two days ago he threw 90 feet, albeit controlled, and came through yesterday. ... The mound test today will be the important one."At this point it would be more of a surprise if he wasn't able to pass today."Mujica, a former closer signed during the offseason as insurance in case Koji Uehara gets hurt, is 1-1 with a 9.00 earned run average, giving up 10 runs in 10 innings.

FungoesIn his book "The Closer", which was released Tuesday, Mariano Rivera writes that he would take Dustin Pedroia over Robinson Cano as his second baseman. "Nobody plays harder, gives more, wants to win more," Rivera wrote, according to passages released by the New York Daily News. "He comes at you hard for 27 outs. It's a special thing to see." ...Despite two days off this week, the Red Sox will not skip over any pitchers in their starting rotation. ...Peavy will oppose Mike Leake on Wednesday night in the finale of Cincinnati's two-game visit to Boston. Peavy is 6-0 with a 2.14 ERA in 10 career starts against the Reds. ...David Ortiz played in his 2,000th career game on Tuesday night. ...Tuesday marked the 99th anniversary of Babe Ruth's first home run, which came in a game he pitched for the Red Sox against the Yankees.Eric Avidon can be reached at 508-626-3809 or eavidon@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @ericavidon.